dodge



March 5, 195? Filed Oct. 18, 1954 AIR A. Y. DODGE CONDITIONING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1957 A. Y. DODGE 2,783,623

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E52 V I V A :1 1g 135 I2 I: a //3 /22 I l 1 b L I l| /2? i?" y 134 4 fi ENToRl r U a, R y

ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1957 A. Y. DODGE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18. 1954 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 2,783,623 in CONDITIONING APPARATUS Adiel Y. Dodge, Rockford, Ill. 7 Application October 13, 1954, Serial No. 462,640

10 Claims. C1. 62-140) This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for dehumidifying and cooling air to produce comfortable conditions for conventional air conditioners while cooling and tempering.

air to be delivered to the dwelling rooms.

It is one of the objects of the resent invention to provide an air conditioning apparatus in which an extremely high degree of dehumidifi'cation is accomplished theclia'n'ically ata relatively high efiiciency.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which dehumidification is accomplished by cooling the air to an excessively low temperature, removing humidity therefrom while so cooled and warming the air before discharging it into the room.

According to one feature of the invention, the air is warmed by passing. it in heat exchanging relationship with the incoming air to warm the outgoing air and to precool the incoming air. This cycle loses little or no energy.

Another feature introduced herein is the further tempering of the overchilled air by incorporating a warm coil near the air discharge outlet. This coil is warmed by refrigerant prior to the final condensing thereof. ,7

The drawings herewith illustrate a cabinet type room air conditioner. However, attention is called to the fact that this design is also suitable for a house air conditioner, to work in connection with a hot air furnace. It being merely necessary to employ ducts to communicate with the air intake and air outlet ports. In some respects, this design is most suitable for a house type air conditioner. v

According to another feature, wet vapor is removed from the air by centrifugal separation while the air is cooled and by recirculating and retreating thewarr'ner and more humid air by returning it to the cooling portion of the apparatus.

The above and other objects and features of'the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View with parts in section of an air conditioning apparatus embodying the invention; 4

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative construction;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure "2; and s s U Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 2 and .3 respectively of another alternative construction.

desired discharge temperature.

2,783,623 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 According to the present invention, air to be cooled is withdrawn: from one or more rooms or other space and is precooled by indirect heat exchangecontact with cooled air being returned to the room. This operation is facilitated by confining the separate streams of air and causing one or both of them to whirl 'spirallyso that heat exchange contact is obtained. Thereafter, the incoming air is cooled to a lower-temperature than-the ultimate desired temperature and is swirledto remove condensate therefrom by centrifugal force. I The warmer more humid air will tend to collect attire axis of the swirling column and is preferably removed and retreatedto insure that all of the air discharged from the apparatus will be adequately cooled and dehumidified. Before passing from the apparatus back to the room, the cooled air is warmed by indirect heat exchange contact with'incoming warm air so thatair returned to the room will bring room conditions within a comfortable'range.

One form of the apparatus embodying the invention, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a tubular casing 10 open atthe top for inlet of air to be cooled from a room, as indicated at 11. The air inlet openings may be in the form of louvers or the like and may extend wholly' or partially around the upper part of the casing, as desired. Within the casing, in coaxial spaced relation thereto, is a tube 12. The interior of the casing 10 and interior of the tube 12 are in communication at the bottom thereof through tangential louvers 13 and the upper part of the tube 12 communicates with a centrifugal fan 14 driven by a motor 15 and with outlet louvers 16 through which air may be returned to the room.

The incoming air'is' drawn through a plurality of spaced screens 17 secured in the casing 10 and connected to the outer surface of the tube 12. Similar screens 18 may be secured within the tube 12 in registration with the screens 17. The screens 17 and 18 serve as heat exchange fins to facilitate flow of heat from the warm incoming air to the overcooled outgoing air through the wall 12. i

Below the screens 17 the incoming air is caused to swirl in the casing 10 by means of anugular vanes 19 extending between the casing and the tube 12. The swirling air passes downward over a precooling coil 21 which may carry incoming water from a'water supply system or any other cooling medium. The coil 21 is adapted to drop the air temperature a few degrees when the supply of water coming into the space is relatively cold and water used in the space may be used at a slightly elevated temperature. Where :these conditions do not obtain, the coil '21 may be omitted.

At the bottom of the casing, the air flows through the louvers 13 which increases its swirling tendency and upward through the tube 12. The air rising in a swirling fashion in the tube 12 will be further cooled by a refrigcrating coil 23 to a temperature substantially below the Condensate formed in the air by cooling produced by the coils 21 and 23 will flow around the lower end of the "tube 12 and will be thrown outward centrifugally and may be removed through an outlet connection 22.

I have found for normal room cooling, for example, that the coil 23 may cool the air to a temperature on the order of 40 to 45 F., although this can be varied depending upon conditions. The coil 23 is preferably secured to the tube 12 at the lower part of the casing so that the tube 12 will be quite cold and air flowing downward in the lower part of the casing and upward in the tube 12 will be effectively cooled.

Since the air is swirling within the tube 12 the condensate formed at the relatively low temperature existing will be thrown outward by centrifugal force against the 'tube 12 and may flow down this tube and out of the casing through the drain,22. Since the condensate is removed promptly from the air while the air is at a low temperature, any possibility of re-evaporation is eliminated and the air is maintained in a dry, cold condition. The colder air is thrown outwardly, the warmer air has little opportunity to pick up moisture.

Swirling of the cold air tends to force the dry porformed with a plurality of tangentially opening louvers or scoops 25 which will scoop the warm humid air from the swirling mass and return it to the lower portion of the conduit where it can flow outward through louvers 26 tion. thereof to the outer periphery of the confining wall auxiliary portion of the fan 114 at 46 and is thereby recirculated over tubes 44, 45 and 123.

In this figure, I have illustrated warm air with a wavy arrow and cold air with a straight arrow. The air which passes tubes 123 swirls upwardly through space 112, passes through tubes 44 and 45 into chamber 47, thence upward and over heat exchanger coils 130;

The cool tempered air is accumulated and discharged by header 48 either into the room or into a suitable conduit for future discharge. The small tubes which carry air from space 112 into space 47 may be deformed as shown at 45, the deformationto set up a turbulent flow thereby to increase the heat convection.

' Warm air passes over the outside of tubes 44 and 45 and is cooled by the cold air passing through the inside of said tubes. It is by this means that the overchilled air which is overchilled by coil 123 is tempered to a warmer to mingle with air entering the tube 12 through the louvers 13. By properly positioning the louvers and 26 and facing them in the proper direction, the desired recirculation of the warm humid air can be produced without any additional circulating means.

. Air flowing above the cooling zone at the lower part of the tube 12 may be maintained in swirling condition by a vane 27 and will flow upward through the screens 18 and the blower 14 to be returned to the room through .the louvers 16.

At 28 is diagrammatically shown a refrigerant compressor driven by a motor located on the opposite side thereof, not shown. The compressor discharges in-toa condenser 29 of any desired type, such as a water cooled type.

A pipe 30 leads from the compressor to a heat exchanger 30 located in the air outlet compartment. This heat exchanger may be employed to further remove the chill from the air and to aid in the cooling of the refrigerant. Refrigerant is returned through a pipe 31 to a heat exchanger 32. High pressure refrigerant gives up heat to-the refrigerant returning through pipe 33 from the evaporator 23 to compressor 28.

From the heat exchanger 32 the compressed refrigerant flows to the evaporator 23 through a reservoir 34 and an expansion valve 35. The valve 35 may be controlled by a thermostat connected thereto through a connection 36 and by return pressure from the coil 23 which is connected thereto through a small tube 37. This type of control is illustrative of any desired or conventional control which may be employed.

The compressed refrigerant may be cooled if desired as set forth in my copending application Serial No. 460,078, filed October 4, 1954, now Patent No. 2,739,452 granted March 27, 1955.

In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown another form of this same invention. In these figures, parts similar to those shown in Figure 1 are given a similar number, plus 100.

In the design shown in these figures, air is taken in at the upper cupola portions by a centrifugal fan 114 and blown downward over heat exchanging tubes 44 and 45, which more or less replace the screens 17 and 18 of Figure l.

After the air is precooled by passing over these tubes, it comes in contact with refrigeration tubes 123 to be further cooled. Condensate is drained oif of tubes 123 by tube 122 from trough 120. Condensate is urged tube 124.

The warm core air is. skimmed off by louvers 125 and carried upward in tube 124 and delivered to the unnecessary chill off of the chilled air.

degree before delivering to the dwelling.

It is pointedrou t that there is little or no energy lost by this warming of the air since the heat transfer acts to cool the incoming air about to be treated. As a further means of warming the overchilled air, a heat exchanger may be employed when necessary.

The heat exchanger 130', like the heat exchanger 30', helps to cool the refrigerant in addition to taking the Here again, there is little or no energy lost since one of the chief functions of refrigeration is to remove heat from the refrigerant.

The use of heat exchangers 130 and 132 enables me to operate consuming less water where a water cooled condenser is employed or enables me to get better results with an air cooled or evaporative type condenser in that I may employ'higher condenser temperatures carrying away more heat with a given amount of air or water and yet eventually reduce the temperature of the refrigerant to the desired point.

In Figure 2, I. have diagrammatically shown an air cooled condenser 129 with evaporator facilities added thereto. Condensate'drips on to the condenser through pipe 122. Should the temperature in pipe 130 exceed a predetermined amount, thermostatic valve 50 will cause blades 46. The main portion of the air which is treated passes through heat exchanger tubes 44 and 45 thereby to be tempered. Said air may be further tempered by a refrigerant heated heat exchanger 130', if desired, before being delivered to the dwelling.

The refrigerant cycle employed herein may be conventional or may more nearly resemble the refrigerant cycle shown in my copending application Serial No.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment in which parts corresponding to like parts in Figure 1 have been indicated by the same reference numerals, plus 200. The construction of Figures 4 and 5 is, in a sense, a combination of the structures of Figures 1 and 2 with a difierent type of evaporator and a different heat exchange arrangement for transmitting heat from the incoming warm air to the outgoing chilled air.

The evaporator 223 is formed by attaching a sleeve or collar to the tube 212 in spaced relation thereto and sealed thereto at its ends. The annular space between the sleeve 212 and the evaporator sleeve or collar is any pressure which may be developed in the evaporator space.

To transmit heat from the incoming warm air to the outgoing chilled air a heat exchanger is provided in the form of a closed circuit coil, a portion 217A of which lies Within the casing 210 and another portion 217B of which lies Within the sleeve 212. The coil 217A and 217B may have vertically sloping legs, as shown, and may have a filler extension 220 accessible through an opening in the top of the casing. The coil maybe filled with any desired heat transmitting or heat absorbing liquid, such as water.-

The slope of the coil is made such that the incoming warm air Within the sleeve 212 will heat the liquid therein and cause it to rise by gravity and flow into the portion 217A lying outside of the sleeve while the cold air passing outside of the sleeve will chill the liquid in that portion of the coil and cause it to flow by gravity into the coil portion 2178 within the sleeve. Normally gravity circulation will be sutficie'nt, but additional circulation could be induced by a pump, or the like, if desired.

With this arrangement, liquid within the coil will absorb heat from the incoming warm air and will carry the heat through the sleeve 212 into the annular discharge space around the sleeve Where the heat will be given up to the outgoing chilled air to temper it. I have found that this provides a highly efiicient heat exchanger, preferable in many respects to the heat exchanger of Figures 1 and 2.

In the embodiments shown, it is contemplated that the unit might be used not only for cooling warm air in the summer, but also for heating air in cooler weather. This can be accomplished by reversing the refrigerant flow so that the condenser will function as an evaporator and the evaporator will function as a condenser, as more fully set forth in my copending application executed this same day. Where a relatively small quantity of heat is required, this system can function effectively by absorbing heat from the outside air or from water cooled through what was previously the condenser.

Attention is called to the fact that in Figures 1 and 4, cooling surfaces are provided so that the outer surface of the cylinder presents a chilled surface to swirling air and likewise, an inner surface of a cylinder presents a chilled surface to swirling air. For instance, in Figure 4, both inner and outer surfaces of 212, due to cold chamber 223, presents inner and outer cylindrical surfaces to swirling air. In Figure 1, the outer surface of 12 is chilled by coil 23 and is presented to swirling air, whereas the coil 21 presents an inner cylindrical surface to swirling air.

I have found by experience that the inner cylindrical surface is most effective to create condensation when chilling, whereas the outer surface of the cylinder is the more effective to cool a larger volume of air. This is due to the fact that centrifugal force causes cold air to move outwardly and hug the cylindrical surfaces not making room for warmer air to contact. The opposite is the case when swirling air contacts the outer surface of a cylinder when chilled. Air moves away from the surface, due to centrifugal force, making room for the warmer air to contact the surface.

Where it is contemplated that the equipment might also be used for warming air, it is desirable to present both inner and outer cylindrical surfaces-an inner surface for warming for maximum effect and an outer surface for cooling for maximum effect.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that they are illustrative only and not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being bad for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow casing separated by a tubular sleeve into concentric elongated passages, means to cause a circulation of airinto one end of one of the passages through said one of the passages into the other end of the other passage and through the other passage out of the casing, cooling means associated with the wall adjacent to said other end of the passages only to cool the air flowing therethrough, the air flowing through said one end of the passages, being in heat exchanging relationship through the sleeve whereby incoming Warm air will be cooled by and will warm outgoing cold air, a conduit extending centrally into the tubular sleeve at said other end of the passages and formed with air inlet openings therein, and means defining an air outletfrom the conduit into the tubular wall at the end of the tubular wall at which air normally enters it.

2. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow casing separated by a tubular sleeve into concentric elongated passages, means to cause a circulation of air at substantially atmospheric pressure into one end of one of the passages through said one of the passages into the other end of the other passage and through the other passage out of the casing, means to cause the air to swirl spirally as it flows through the passages, a cooling coil associated with the sleeve adjacent to said other end of the passages only, the air flowing through said one end of the passages being in heat exchanging relationship through the Wall, and means defining an outlet for condensate from said other end of the passages.

3. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow casing separated by a tubular sleeve into concentric elongated passages, means to cause a circulation of air into one'end of one ofthe passages through said one of the passages into the other end of the other passage and through the other passage out of the casing, means to cause the air to svv-irl spirally as it flows through the passages, cooling 'rnea'ns associated with the sleeve adjace'nt to said other end of the passages only, the air flowing through said one end of the passages being in heat exchanging relationship through the wall, a conduit extending centrally into the tubular sleeve at said other end of the passages and formed with tangential air inlet openings to scoop air from the swirling mass in the tubular sleeve, and means defining anair outlet opening from the conduit into the tubular sleeve at the end of the tubular sleeve at which air enters it. v

4. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tubular casing, a tubular sleeve mounted coaxially in the casing'separating it into inner and outer concentric passages, means to cause a circulation of air at substantially atmospheric pressure downward in one of the passages into the lower end of the other passage and upward through the other passage, a. cooling coil located in the lower portion of one of the passages, the upper portion of the tubular sleeve transferring heat be tween air flows in the upper parts of the passages, means in the passages to cause the air to swirl spirally therein as it flows therethrough, and means at the lower portion of the casing to remove condensate therefrom.

5. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tubular casing, a tubular sleeve mounted coaxially in the casing separating it into inner and outer concentric passages, means to cause a circulation of air downward in one of the passages into the lower end of the other passage and upward through the other passage, cooling means located within the lower portion of one of the passages, the upper portion of the tubular sleeve transferring heat between air flows in the upper parts of the passages, means in the passages to cause the air to swirl spirally therein as it flows therethrough, a conduit extending centrally into the tubular sleeve and having openings therein at the lower portion of the casing to scoop air from the swirling mass in the lower portion of the tubular sleeve, and means defining air outlet open- 7 ings from the conduit into the air inlet end of one of said passages.

6. An air conditioning apparatus comprising avertically elongated hollow casing, a vertical tubular sleeve in the casing separating it into inner and outer passages communicating with each other at the lower part of the casing, means forming an air inlet opening at the upper end of one passage and an air outlet opening at the upper end of the other passage, a motor mounted in the upper end of the inner passage, a rotatable blower blade connected to the motor and lying in the upper end of the inner passage to cause a circulation of air through the passages, cooling means associated with the tubular sleeve in the lower part only of the casing, the upper part of the sleeve transferring heat between air flows in the upper parts of the passages, a conduit extending axially into the tubular sleeve and formed with a series of tangentially facing inlet openings, means to cause the air to swirl in the tubular sleeve whereby the tangential inlet openings will skim off air from the inner portion of the swirling mass into the conduit, and means forming an outlet from the conduit into the air inlet end of the inner passage.

7. An air conditioning apparatus comprising vertically elongated tubular members spaced one within the other to form inner and outer passages communicating with each other at their lower ends, means forming an air inlet opening in the upper end of one of the outer passages, and an air outlet opening at the upper end of the inner passage, a blower mounted in the upper end of one of the passages to cause a circulation of air through the passages, refrigeration coils located in the lower end of one of the passages to chill the air, louvers in the inner member providing communication at the lower end of the passages to transmit air'in a swirling motion into the inner passage, a conduit tube located in the center of the inner passage, having louvers to skim core air swirling in the inner passage and conduct it to the fan, and heat exchanging tubes extending from the inner through the outer passage through which the outgoing chilled air fiows to absorb heat from the incoming air thereby to temper the chilled air before delivering it to the outlet.

8. An air conditioning apparatus comprising vertically elongated tubular members spaced one within the other to form inner and outer passages communicating with each other at their lower ends, means forming an air inlet opening in one end of one of the passages, and an air outlet opening at the same end of the other passage, a blower or fan mounted in one of the passages to cause a circulation of air through the passages, refrigeration coils located in the other end of one of the passages to chill the air, louvers in the inner member providing communication between the passagesat the other ends thereof to transmit air with a swirling motion into said other passage, a conduit tube located in the center of the inner passage, having louvers to skim core air swirling in the inner passage and conduct it to a point anterior to the refrigeration coils, and heat exchanging tubes extending from said one end of the other passage through said one passage to the outlet opening to absorb heat from the incoming air thereby to temper the chilled air before delivering it to the outlet.

9. An air conditioning apparatus comprising vertically elongated tubular members spaced one within the other to form inner and outer passages communicating with each other at the upper and lower ends, means forming an air inlet opening in one end of one of the passages, and an air outlet opening at the same end of the other passage, a blower or fan mounted in one of the passages to cause a circulation of air through the passages, refrigeration coils located in the other end of one of the passages to chill the air, louvers in the inner member providing communication between the passages at the other ends thereof to transmit air with a swirling motion into said other passage, and a heat exchange coil having portions lying in said one end of the passages to transmit heat from the incoming warm air to the outgoing chilled air. a

10. An air conditioningapparatus comprising vertically elongated tubular members spaced one within the other to form inner and outer passages communicating with each other at the upper and lower ends, means forming an air inlet opening in one end of one of the passages, and an air outlet opening at the same end of the other passage, a blower or fan mounted in one of the passages References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,968 Kettering Sept. 4, 1937 2,239,848 Jackson Apr. 29, 1941 2,318,393 Hanerkamp May 4, 1943 2,586,002 Carson Feb. 19, 1952 2,648,202 'Otterholm Aug. 11, 1953 I sca 

